He’d seen flashes of her before, flashes that tempted and taunted as much as her curvy body and catch-me-if-you-can manner. Flashes of a woman who touched him deep inside. The notion shocked him even though he’d realized it before.
Troy didn’t want to be touched by a woman.
If the experience was anything like what he’d observed in his brothers, he’d end up touched in the head. Worse than that, though, Senada wasn’t exactly the girl next door. He wondered if he laid himself bare for her, if she’d use him the way the rest had. Watching her swim toward him, he took a deep breath of fortitude. Come hell or high water, he was determined to come out of this mercy mission unscathed. He glanced at the water and grimaced. He had the high water right now. He’d been through hell. Heaven knew what was next.
“Nice quiet night,” Troy said with satisfaction to Senada as she worked the bar.
“So far,” she told him, tilting her head toward Juan. “He’s been putting them back pretty fast.”
A man stomped into the room and headed straight for Juan.
Senada winced. “Oh no. Not again. Mr. Salderos.” She lifted a hand when Troy stood. “I’m handling it this time.”
Mr. Salderos immediately started in on Juan. Senada caught all of the man’s virulent words. He was clearly still upset about his unwed daughter’s pregnancy.
Troy came to her side. “What’s he saying?”
“He’s calling Juan a slew of insulting names for getting his daughter pregnant and abandoning her.” She turned to the man. “Mr. Salderos, I think it would be best—”
Mr. Salderos continued unabated.
Senada raised her voice. “Silencio!”
Mr. Salderos paused and stared at her, then turned to Juan and lifted his fist. Everything blurred together. Troy swore and pushed her away. Mr. Salderos’s fist connected with Troy’s mouth. Within a minute, all three men and Senada were outside in the dark parking lot.
Troy wiped his bloody mouth and winced. “We’re not doing this again.” He waved his hand at Senada. “You translate.”
Troy pointed his finger at Mr. Salderos. “You are not coming in here again to start anything with Juan.”
Senada repeated his words in Spanish.
“The next time, I’m hitting you back, and I’m not just hitting you once. I’m beginning to feel like I owe you.” He glanced at Juan. “Both of you.”
Senada translated for Mr. Salderos, and the older man backed slightly away.
Juan shrugged. “I deserve it. Let him hit me. She is the sweetest girl in the world, and I got her pregnant.”
“If she’s so damn sweet, why don’t you just marry her?” Troy retorted, dabbing at his still-bleeding lip with the back of his hand.
“I would marry her, but her father won’t let me see her.”
Troy and Senada stared at each other.
“Translate, please,” Troy said.
Senada repeated Juan’s words to Mr. Salderos, and the old man looked at Juan in surprise.
“You wish to marry her?” he asked in Spanish.
“Sí,” Juan said.
Mr. Salderos started talking again, this time in a brighter tone.
Troy regarded him with suspicion. “What’s he saying? I’m not gonna have to hit him, am I?”
Senada shook her head. “He’s setting the date for the wedding. Watch. They’ll shake hands in a minute.”
Sure enough. Three more minutes, and Mr. Salderos and Juan looked as if they could have been long-lost pals. Mr. Salderos patted Juan on the back and offered to take him home.
Senada glanced at Troy and took his hand in hers. “Let’s go back in and get some ice for your lip.”
“This is getting to be a habit,” he grumbled, lacing his fingers more securely through hers. He liked the sensation of her inner palm nestled against his. For such an innocent gesture, it had a big impact on him.
“Think it says something about your arbitration skills?”
He pulled her to a stop just inside the door. “I didn’t conduct the negotiations this time. I just stepped in when Mr. Salderos started to lose it.”
She blinked. “You’re right.” Her voice softened and she touched his jaw. “Thank you.”
Troy stood completely still. There was a rumbling deep inside him, and it wasn’t for food. It was like the threat of an earthquake, shifting his foundations. He took a deep breath.
Her eyelashes drifted over her eyes, shielding her expression from him as she moved away. “I’ll get you some ice. It’s almost closing time, anyway. Go have a seat.”
Senada gave Troy the ice, then avoided him for the next thirty minutes. She felt him watching her every move. Something about his gaze made her knees feel like jelly. Add to that the way he’d protected her, and she felt her defenses falling like a house of cards. Concentrating on the little tasks required to close the bar, she regained a little of her calm before she checked on him again.